Keep Kids Reading

I recently read an articleby Dan Kois titled Not Lost in a Book, which was a bit discouraging for an author of a middle grade series. It pointed out that sales of MG books have been dropping since 2022, falling 16 percent that year and 10 percent in the first three quarters of 2023. This trend of kids no longer reading for pleasure is called the “Decline by 9” and it’s causing concern for both publishers and educators. It should also worry parents and I believe it requires action and for some parents, a bit of compromise.

I remember when my kids were young and loved The Captain Underpants series. I often read with my boys and thought the books were silly and pointless, but if it kept them interested in reading, I was all for it. I knew other parents who felt differently about the series and refused to let their kids read them. The idea for my books was born from a desire to provide a topic that would interest kids, but also challenge their reading skills beyond what was currently available. Immature humor appeals to most middle-grade readers and I was looking to fill a need. I know some parents will look at my Adventures of Mucus Phlegmball series and turn up their noses at the content, finding it too “gross”. I actually had a parent express her displeasure to me directly at a book selling event and it made me a little sad. After all, even though she would be the one purchasing the book, it wasn’t written with her in mind.

One of my sons was a reluctant reader as a young child and I think part of the reason was because he struggled to find books that were of interest to him. Thankfully, he had a teacher in middle school who made it his mission to help. That son is now an adult and reads daily. His interest now lies in non-fiction books about topics that help him professionally, but I do feel he would be less likely to bother reading at all with other mediums now available such as podcasts and webinars if he had not been encouraged to do so at a critical age.

The above article also discussed how curriculum is changing in schools and many now focus more on reading excerpts from books and responding to them, rather than reading the entire book. This makes the parents role even more critical in my opinion.

So, what are parents to do? I think it’s important to be proactive in encouraging your kids to read. With screen time taking over all of our lives, the act of sitting down with a book needs to be stressed more than ever. If we don’t model the behavior and teach our kids that it’s important, they will be drawn away by other pursuits. If your kids are reluctant, help them to find something they want to read, whether it appeals to you or not. Ask them what their interests are. Using keyword searches it’s easier than ever to locate books with themes your kids will enjoy. If you can’t afford to buy every book, a search can still give you titles to look for at your local library. If the book isn’t on the shelf, request that the library obtain a copy, which helps both you and the author.

Have your kids ask their friends what they are reading. Recommendations from others are a great way to discover new material. It’s also beneficial for both the author and other parents to leave reviews. They don’t have to be detailed, a simple “my child loved it” will do.

If your child is still struggling to read on their own, find the time to read with them. There is a lot to be said for sitting down together and enjoying an adventure. Finally, remember, even if your kids love immature humor now, it doesn’t mean they won’t eventually grow into a love of more classic literature. Perhaps you can work out a deal that for every book they pick out, you also get to choose one for them. The key is to foster a love for reading no matter what the topic might be.